Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3133, Cornelius Dunham, Mass. Sea Service

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass Sea Service
Dunham, Cornelius Lydia
R. 3133
CONTENTS

I Thomas Drew, Clerk, of the town of Plymouth in the State of Massachusetts, hereby certify, that in the second book of records of said town, containing the marriages and births &c. page two hundred and sixty sixth, under the head of "Marriages solemnized by the Rev d Mr. Chandler Robbins of Plymouth, there is the following record, viz:
Seventeen hundred and seventy four, March the tenth,
Cornelius Donham and Lydia Atwood, both of Plymouth
And I certify, that the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures, as follows, viz: 1774. March 10.
I Thomas Drew, above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk of the Town of Plymouth in the State of Massachusetts, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town, with the exception above named as certified by me
Thomas Drew, Clerk of the Town of Plymouth
Plymouth December 5th: 1838,
Plymouth Y. Dec 5, 1838 Subscribed & sworn to the day last above written Before me
Woman Lincoln
Jur: Pease

X - -
4239
Lydia Dunham widow of Cornelius.
Mass. act. 4 July 36 -
m 74, d 38 -
Rejected
let J. H. Lord May 25. 39
J. H. Lord Hingham Mass.

State of Massachusetts
H Plymouth County ss. On this first Monday of December in the Year Eighteen hundred & thirty eight before the Court of Probate for said County personally appeared Lydia Dunham a resident of Hingham in said County, Widow aged eighty five years whose being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4. 1836 & a joint Resolve of July 7. 1838: That she is the Widow of Cornelius Dunham who was in the Naval service in the War of the Revolution at different times a great portion of the War commencing in the first year of the War when he was taken a prisoner & carried to Halifax & there detained for 3 years.
That on the twenty sixth day of July in the Year Seventeen hundred and eighty two he was commissioned by John Hancock to command the Schooner Hope well which was employed by the Government & he served in said capacity in said vessel until the close of the War.
She further declares that she was married to the said Cornelius Dunham on the tenth day of March in the Year Seventeen hundred & seventy four. that her husband the aforesaid Cornelius Dunham died on the fifteenth day of July in the Year Eighteen hundred & thirty six & that she has remained a Widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Lydia Dunham

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first above written Before me
Wilkes Wood J. Prob.
Plymouth Co. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Hon. Wilkes Wood is Judge of Pro- bate for said County & that the above is his true & proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand & the seal of said Court this twenty second day of December A.D. 1838.
Jacob H. Lord

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
RECORDED
3133
P. O.
Lydia Dunham
Service: mid of Cornelia
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contra
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Plymouth Y. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Solomon Lincoln & James Ford jun. Esqrs. the Justices of the Probate for said County & that the signatures to the annexed af- fidavits purporting to be signed by them are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this 22 d Day of December 1838. Jacob H. Lord

I William Weston of Plymouth in the County of Plymouth, aged Eighty one years on oath do testify & say that I well knew Cornelius Dunham late of Hingham in said County deceased. Said Dunham lived a next door neighbor to me during a part of the Revolutionary War. He was a Sea faring man & was considered a good pilot all along the coast from Cape Cod to Mount Desert. In the latter part of the War he commanded a little Clipper built Schooner called the Hopewell which I always understood to be a public vessel. She was employed in cruising close in shore & among the numerous islands on the Coast of the State of Maine. I saw the vessel a number of times. Capt Dunham cruised in her a long time I cannot remember how long but probably to the end of the War. I am acquainted with Lydia Dunham who is now his Widow. I was present at their wedding in . She is now living & has not been married since his decease. Said Cornelius Dunham died a little more than two years ago.
W m Weston

Plymouth Y. Dec 5, 1838 Then William West the subscri- ber to the within affidavit whom I certify to be a credi- ble person appeared before me & made oath to the truth of the same
Solomon Lincoln Jus: Peace

I Hannah Clark of Abington County of Plymouth a Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eightyfive last April, Depose & say that I have been acquainted with Capt Cornelius Dunham's family ever since the commencement of the revolution & lived resided with his wife a part of the time during the war, that the sd Dunham was absent about three years a prisoner at Halifax Nova Scotia, after his return sd Dunham was at sea in different vessels during the service, that sd Dunham has been dead about three years
Abington Dec 10th 1838
Hannah Clark
Plymouth. ss. On the tenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty eight the aforesaid Deponent was examined, and cautioned & affirmed agreeable to law, to the Deposition aforesaid by her subscribed, taken at the request of Ezra Dunham & to be used for the benefit of the Widow of Capt Cornelius Dunham, Deceased
James Ford Jr. Justice of the Peace

Sir
Probate Office
Plymouth Mass.
Dec 22. 1838
I send you herewith the pension application of Mrs. Lydia Dunham for a pension. Any communications in relation thereto may be made to me.
Yours with respect
J. H. Lord
J. L. Edmonds Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Dec 9/56.
Original Silvered to Chas. A. Dunham

(S.S.)
Copy
By His Excellency John Hancock Esq. Governor & Commander in Chief in & over the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
To Cornelius Dunham Esq. Greeting You being appointed to take command of the Armed Schooner called the Hope well of the burthen of Eighteen Tons or thereabouts mounting two Carriage Guns and navigated by Eighteen men fitted out at the Expences of William Roman & others of Beverly for the purpose of Cruizing against the enemies of the United States. By virtue of the power vested in me I do by these Presents, Reposing Special Trust and confidence in your ability courage and good conduct, Commission you accord- -ingly and give you the said Cornelius Dunham full power with such persons as you shall engage to your assistance, by force of arms to attack, seize and take the Ships and other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of Great Britain or to any subject or subjects thereof with their tackle apparel furniture & Lading on the high Seas or between high water & low water marks, and bring the same to some convenient port in this Common- wealth in order that the Courts which have been or shall thereafter be appointed to hear and determine maritime laws may proceed in due form to condemn the said Captures if the be adjudged lawful prizes - The said Cornelius Dunham Having given Bonds to the Treasurer of the United States of America with sufficient Sureties that nothing

be done by the said Cornelius Dunham or any of the Officers, Mariners or Company of the said Vessel contrary to or inconsistent with the usages and Customs of Nations and the instructions that are or may be given to him by Congress.
And I will and require all Officers to give due and assistance to the said Cornelius Dunham in the Premises.
This Commission to continue in force until further orders.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the said Commonwealth at Boston the twenty sixth day of July in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty two and in the Seventh year of the Independence of the United States of America.
(Signed) John Hancock
By his Excellency's Command
John Avery, Secy